Pallet loader and manipulator

Abstract

A pallet load stand and manipulator allows a pallet to receive a workpiece and the workpiece to be clamped to the pallet while the pallet is in a horizontal position. Once the workpiece has been clamped to the pallet, the pallet may be rotated to a vertical position so that the pallet may be loaded onto a machine tool that operates on a workpiece with the pallet in the vertical position. The pallet may also be rotated to an intermediate position, similar to an artist's easel, in which the pallet is held in an inclined position, between the horizontal and vertical positions by positive locating assemblies and positive stops.

1. A pallet loader and manipulator for loading a pallet and a workpiece into a machine tool, the pallet loader and manipulator comprising:
 a generally rectangular base; 
 a plurality of vertical support portions mounted on the base; 
 roller tracks mounted on either side of the pallet loader and manipulator; 
 a pallet carriage guided by the roller tracks; 
 a pallet support plate mounted on the pallet carriage; the pallet support plate configured to receive a pallet and a workpiece; whereby the pallet and the workpiece may be loaded onto the pallet support plate with the pallet carriage and the pallet support plate in the horizontal position, and whereby the pallet carriage, the pallet support plate, the pallet and the workpiece may be re-oriented to the vertical position to load the pallet and the workpiece into the machine tool in the vertical position; and 
 a pallet drive motor coupled to the pallet carriage, whereby the pallet drive motor may be used to drive the pallet off of the pallet carriage and onto the machine tool. 
 
     
     
       2. The pallet loader and manipulator of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a chain drive for re-orienting the pallet carriage between horizontal and vertical positions; and, 
 a motor for driving the chain. 
 
     
     
       3. The pallet loader of  claim 1  further comprising:
 rollers for mounting the pallet carriage to the roller tracks; and 
 the roller tracks comprising a vertical portion, a horizontal portion, and a radius portion joining the bottom of the vertical portion to the horizontal portion. 
 
     
     
       4. The pallet loader of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a stop position to position the pallet support plate in an inclined position between the horizontal and the vertical position. 
 
     
     
       5. The pallet loader of  claim 4  wherein the inclined position for the pallet carriage and the pallet support plate is at an angle of between 10 and 20 degrees from the vertical. 
     
     
       6. The pallet loader of  claim 5  further comprising:
 a locking device to lock the pallet carriage in either the inclined position or the vertical position. 
 
     
     
       7. The pallet loader of  claim 6  further comprising:
 a shotpin comprising the locking device. 
 
     
     
       8. The pallet loader of  claim 1  further comprising:
 two rear extending outrigger portions comprising part of the rectangular base; and, 
 hypotenuse braces connecting the top of the vertical support portion to the ends of the two rear extending outrigger portions. 
 
     
     
       9. A pallet loader and manipulator for loading a pallet and a workpiece into a machine tool, the pallet loader and manipulator comprising:
 a generally rectangular base; 
 a plurality of vertical support portions mounted on the base; 
 roller tracks mounted on either side of the pallet loader and manipulator; 
 the roller tracks comprising a vertical portion, a horizontal portion, and a radius portion joining the bottom of the vertical portion to the horizontal portion; 
 a pallet carriage guided by the roller tracks; 
 rollers for mounting the pallet carriage to the roller tracks; 
 a pallet support plate mounted on the pallet carriage; the pallet support plate configured to receive a pallet and a workpiece; whereby the pallet and the workpiece may be loaded onto the pallet support plate with the pallet carriage and the pallet support plate in the horizontal position, and whereby the pallet carriage, the pallet support plate, the pallet and the workpiece may be re-oriented to the vertical position to load the pallet and the workpiece into the machine tool in the vertical position; and, 
 a device for transferring the pallet from the pallet loader and manipulator into the machine tool for a machining operation.